![<p>Brandon Palaniuk has been chasing smallmouth since he was 8 years old. Granted, the 26-year-old still has less time under his belt doing it than many Elite Series pros, but his affinity for olâ smalljaws has made him an expert in the ways of the brown fish. Here are his 5 favorite smallie-bustinâ baits.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/j5c5970_1.jpg)
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1. <strong>Rapala X-Rap</strong></p>
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Early in the year, Palaniuk targets long gravel points featuring steep banks with this jerkbait. âThese points are good places for them to gather before they go in to spawn,â he says. Naturally, shad hues are his top pick. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, <a href=](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/X-Rap.jpg)
1. Rapala X-Rap
Early in the year, Palaniuk targets long gravel points featuring steep banks with this jerkbait. âThese points are good places for them to gather before they go in to spawn,â he says. Naturally, shad hues are his top pick. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
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2. <strong>Rapala Shad Rap</strong></p>
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Palaniuk opts for a crawdad-looking crankbait to throw along 45-degree banks that are rocky in nature. âIâve won a lot of money throwing this thing to riprap, pea gravel, or mixed rock banks in the springtime,â he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse,<a href=](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Shad20Rap.jpg)
2. Rapala Shad Rap
Palaniuk opts for a crawdad-looking crankbait to throw along 45-degree banks that are rocky in nature. âIâve won a lot of money throwing this thing to riprap, pea gravel, or mixed rock banks in the springtime,â he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
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3. <strong>Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper</strong></p>
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Palaniuk likes this Larry Nixon-designed finesse worm on a drop shot rig as he targets offshore bass, or those in slightly deeper water. A green pumpkin, 6.25-inch size model gets the nod. âIâll use this with a 3/16- or 5/8-ounce EcoPro Tungsten Drop Shot sinker along grasslines or on rockpiles as the smallies move out deeper for the summer,â he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, <a href=](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Havoc20Bottom20Hopper.jpg)
3. Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper
Palaniuk likes this Larry Nixon-designed finesse worm on a drop shot rig as he targets offshore bass, or those in slightly deeper water. A green pumpkin, 6.25-inch size model gets the nod. âIâll use this with a 3/16- or 5/8-ounce EcoPro Tungsten Drop Shot sinker along grasslines or on rockpiles as the smallies move out deeper for the summer,â he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
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4. <strong>Berkley Hollow Belly</strong></p>
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Palaniuk says that this is a smallie wrecking ball when theyâre on flats. âPrespawn, spawn and postspawn theyâre on those flats, and itâll catch âem no matter the phase of the spawn theyâre in,â he says. âIf the big females donât eat it, theyâll show themselves and you can go back and throw something into the bed and catch her.â A 1/4- or 1/2-ounce jighead is his preferred rigging method. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, <a href=](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Hollow20belly.jpg)
4. Berkley Hollow Belly
Palaniuk says that this is a smallie wrecking ball when theyâre on flats. âPrespawn, spawn and postspawn theyâre on those flats, and itâll catch âem no matter the phase of the spawn theyâre in,â he says. âIf the big females donât eat it, theyâll show themselves and you can go back and throw something into the bed and catch her.â A 1/4- or 1/2-ounce jighead is his preferred rigging method. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
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5. <strong>Rapala Rippinâ Rap</strong></p>
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âIâll throw this in the fall, and when theyâre really eating it, you can have 100-fish days,â he says. He opts for this perch color when heâs up north. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, <a href=](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Rippin20rap20-20perch_0.jpg)
5. Rapala Rippinâ Rap
âIâll throw this in the fall, and when theyâre really eating it, you can have 100-fish days,â he says. He opts for this perch color when heâs up north. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
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<strong>Rapala Rippinâ Rap</strong></p>
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A more traditional baitfish color is ideal elsewhere. âSmallies hunt in packs, and when they corral the shad up to eat, this can be deadly,â he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, <a href=](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Rippin20Rap.jpg)
Rapala Rippinâ Rap
A more traditional baitfish color is ideal elsewhere. âSmallies hunt in packs, and when they corral the shad up to eat, this can be deadly,â he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com